Mississippi licenses 65 out of 102 lower-income occupations (more than half of the occupations included in the study) . The state’s licensing laws are less burdensome than most other states. The state's licensing laws rank 44th in the nation.
On average, Mississippi requires $343 in licensing fees, 169 days of education and about 2 exam. Fees for a license exceed $1000 for Fire Alarm Installer, Security Alarm Installer.
Out of the 65 occupations that require an occupational license in Mississippi, a license for Preschool Teacher, Public School has the highest burden. A Preschool Teacher, Public School license requires $367 in fees, 3 exams, no experience, and 4 years of education.
Out of the 65 occupations that require an occupational license in Mississippi, a license for Taxidermist has the lowest burden. A Taxidermist license requires $12 in fees, no exams, no experience, and no of education.
An occupational license in Mississippi costs the most for Fire Alarm Installer, Security Alarm Installer where the license costs $1290.
An occupational license for in Mississippi costs the least for Pest Control Applicator, Vegetation Pesticide Applicator, Landscape Contractor (Residential), Milk Sampler where the license costs $0.
In Mississippi, an occupational license takes the most time (due to required education/experience) for Preschool Teacher, Public School, Athletic Trainer.It takes 1460 days (4 years) total.
In Mississippi, an occupational license takes the least time due to required education/experience (0 days) for Bus Driver, City/Transit, Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer, Pharmacy Technician, Truck Driver, Other, Gaming Cage Worker, Gaming Dealer, Gaming Supervisor, Slot Supervisor, Interpreter, Sign Language, Weigher, Mobile Home Installer, Milk Sampler, Fisher, Commercial, Taxidermist.
In Mississippi, to obtain an occupational license there is at least one exam required for: Preschool Teacher, Public School, Athletic Trainer, Earth Driller, Water Well, Veterinary Technician, Pest Control Applicator, Landscape Contractor (Commercial), Vegetation Pesticide Applicator, Cosmetologist, Barber, Shampooer, Landscape Contractor (Residential), Massage Therapist, Skin Care Specialist, Manicurist, Fire Alarm Installer, Security Alarm Installer, Emergency Medical Technician, Auctioneer, Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Commercial), Cement Finishing Contractor (Commercial), Drywall Installation Contractor (Commercial), Glazier Contractor (Commercial), HVAC Contractor (Commercial), Iron/Steel Contractor (Commercial), Painting Contractor (Commercial), Paving Contractor (Commercial), Pipelayer Contractor, Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial), Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Commercial), Terrazzo Contractor (Commercial), School Bus Driver, Door Repair Contractor (Commercial), Insulation Contractor (Commercial), Mason Contractor (Commercial), Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Residential), Cement Finishing Contractor (Residential), Door Repair Contractor (Residential), Drywall Installation Contractor (Residential), Floor Sander Contractor (Residential), Glazier Contractor (Residential), HVAC Contractor (Residential), Insulation Contractor (Residential), Iron/Steel Contractor (Residential), Mason Contractor (Residential), Painting Contractor (Residential), Paving Contractor (Residential), Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential), Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Residential), Terrazzo Contractor (Residential), Bus Driver, City/Transit, Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer, Truck Driver, Other, Interpreter, Sign Language, Mobile Home Installer, Milk Sampler. School Bus Driver requires 6 exams.
Mississippi’s licensing laws for lower-income occupations are only the 46th most burdensome in the nation, requiring, on average, $330 in fees, 160 days of education and experience, and roughly two exams. However, because Mississippi licenses more lower-income occupations than average—66 of the 102 studied here—it is the 19th most broadly and onerously licensed state.
Mississippi’s laws are less burdensome than most, but its fees for some licenses are much higher than average. For example, fire and security alarm installers face fees of $1,090 before they can work in Mississippi. But the average fees across other states that license those occupations are about half that—$557 and $487, respectively.
Mississippi also imposes more extensive education requirements on some occupations than on others that may present greater risks to the public. For example, barbers and cosmetologists must complete roughly 350 days (1,500 hours) of education—nearly a year—to become licensed. Similarly, makeup artists must complete around 140 days (600 hours) of education and manicurists around 82 days (350 hours). EMTs, on the other hand, are deemed capable first responders after just 28 days (120 hours) of education. Mississippi can expand opportunity for workers by easing its barriers to entry for personal care occupations and other lower-income occupations. In keeping with 2017 legislation that enacted a policy favoring less restrictive alternatives to licensing, the state should also review all existing licenses to identify those that can be repealed and—if government regulation is necessary—replaced with less burdensome alternatives.
Burden Rank | Occupation | Number of States that License | Fees | Education/Experience (Days) | Education | Experience | Exams | Minimum Grade | Minimum Age | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Preschool Teacher, Public School | 50 | 367 | 1460 | 4 years | None | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
2 | Athletic Trainer | 49 | 490 | 1460 | 4 years | None | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
3 | Earth Driller, Water Well | 51 | 620 | 1095 | None | 3 years | 4 | 0 | 21 | |
4 | Child Care Home, Family | 44 | 190 | 732 | 9 clock hours & 2 years | None | 0 | 12 | 21 | |
5 | Veterinary Technician | 36 | 425 | 730 | 2 years | None | 2 | 0 | 18 | |
6 | Pest Control Applicator | 51 | 0 | 730 | 2 years | None | 2 | 0 | 18 | |
7 | Landscape Contractor (Commercial) | 47 | 640 | 432 | None | 1 year & 3 jobs, contractors | 3 | 12 | 0 | |
8 | Vegetation Pesticide Applicator | 51 | 0 | 365 | None | 1 year | 4 | 12 | 18 | |
9 | Cosmetologist | 51 | 245 | 350 | 1500 clock hours | None | 2 | 12 | 17 | |
10 | Barber | 51 | 100 | 350 | 1500 clock hours | None | 2 | 12 | 0 | |
10 | Shampooer | 33 | 100 | 350 | 1500 clock hours | None | 2 | 12 | 0 | |
12 | Landscape Contractor (Residential) | 48 | 0 | 365 | None | 1 year | 1 | 12 | 0 | |
13 | Massage Therapist | 45 | 445 | 163 | 700 clock hours | None | 2 | 12 | 18 | |
14 | Skin Care Specialist | 51 | 245 | 140 | 600 clock hours | None | 2 | 12 | 17 | |
15 | Manicurist | 51 | 335 | 82 | 350 clock hours | None | 2 | 12 | 17 | |
16 | Fire Alarm Installer | 39 | 1290 | 72 | 28 clock hours | 3 jobs, contractors | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
16 | Security Alarm Installer | 37 | 1290 | 72 | 28 clock hours | 3 jobs, contractors | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
18 | Emergency Medical Technician | 51 | 138 | 39 | 165 clock hours | None | 2 | 12 | 18 | |
19 | Auctioneer | 28 | 300 | 11 | 7.5 days | None | 1 | 12 | 18 | |
20 | Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Commercial) | 25 | 640 | 67 | None | 3 jobs, contractors | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
20 | Cement Finishing Contractor (Commercial) | 24 | 640 | 67 | None | 3 jobs, contractors | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
20 | Drywall Installation Contractor (Commercial) | 25 | 640 | 67 | None | 3 jobs, contractors | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
20 | Glazier Contractor (Commercial) | 26 | 640 | 67 | None | 3 jobs, contractors | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
20 | HVAC Contractor (Commercial) | 37 | 640 | 67 | None | 3 jobs, contractors | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
20 | Iron/Steel Contractor (Commercial) | 26 | 640 | 67 | None | 3 jobs, contractors | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
20 | Painting Contractor (Commercial) | 22 | 640 | 67 | None | 3 jobs, contractors | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
20 | Paving Contractor (Commercial) | 24 | 640 | 67 | None | 3 jobs, contractors | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
20 | Pipelayer Contractor | 27 | 640 | 67 | None | 3 jobs, contractors | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
20 | Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial) | 37 | 640 | 67 | None | 3 jobs, contractors | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
20 | Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Commercial) | 26 | 640 | 67 | None | 3 jobs, contractors | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
20 | Terrazzo Contractor (Commercial) | 23 | 640 | 67 | None | 3 jobs, contractors | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
32 | School Bus Driver | 51 | 106 | 1 | 8 clock hours | None | 6 | 0 | 18 | |
33 | Door Repair Contractor (Commercial) | 24 | 520 | 67 | None | 3 jobs, contractors | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
33 | Insulation Contractor (Commercial) | 24 | 520 | 67 | None | 3 jobs, contractors | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
33 | Mason Contractor (Commercial) | 26 | 520 | 67 | None | 3 jobs, contractors | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
36 | Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Residential) | 30 | 290 | 67 | None | 3 jobs, contractors | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
36 | Cement Finishing Contractor (Residential) | 30 | 290 | 67 | None | 3 jobs, contractors | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
36 | Door Repair Contractor (Residential) | 29 | 290 | 67 | None | 3 jobs, contractors | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
36 | Drywall Installation Contractor (Residential) | 30 | 290 | 67 | None | 3 jobs, contractors | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
36 | Floor Sander Contractor (Residential) | 27 | 290 | 67 | None | 3 jobs, contractors | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
36 | Glazier Contractor (Residential) | 30 | 290 | 67 | None | 3 jobs, contractors | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
36 | HVAC Contractor (Residential) | 35 | 290 | 67 | None | 3 jobs, contractors | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
36 | Insulation Contractor (Residential) | 30 | 290 | 67 | None | 3 jobs, contractors | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
36 | Iron/Steel Contractor (Residential) | 30 | 290 | 67 | None | 3 jobs, contractors | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
36 | Mason Contractor (Residential) | 31 | 290 | 67 | None | 3 jobs, contractors | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
36 | Painting Contractor (Residential) | 27 | 290 | 67 | None | 3 jobs, contractors | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
36 | Paving Contractor (Residential) | 28 | 290 | 67 | None | 3 jobs, contractors | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
36 | Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential) | 36 | 290 | 67 | None | 3 jobs, contractors | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
36 | Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Residential) | 31 | 290 | 67 | None | 3 jobs, contractors | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
36 | Terrazzo Contractor (Residential) | 28 | 290 | 67 | None | 3 jobs, contractors | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
51 | Bus Driver, City/Transit | 51 | 101 | 0 | None | None | 5 | 0 | 17 | |
52 | Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer | 51 | 96 | 0 | None | None | 5 | 0 | 17 | |
53 | Pharmacy Technician | 44 | 90 | 0 | None | None | 0 | 12 | 18 | |
54 | Truck Driver, Other | 51 | 96 | 0 | None | None | 4 | 0 | 17 | |
55 | Gaming Cage Worker | 30 | 125 | 0 | None | None | 0 | 0 | 21 | |
55 | Gaming Dealer | 29 | 125 | 0 | None | None | 0 | 0 | 21 | |
55 | Gaming Supervisor | 31 | 125 | 0 | None | None | 0 | 0 | 21 | |
55 | Slot Supervisor | 29 | 125 | 0 | None | None | 0 | 0 | 21 | |
59 | Interpreter, Sign Language | 22 | 225 | 0 | None | None | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
60 | Weigher | 24 | 25 | 0 | None | None | 0 | 0 | 21 | |
61 | Mobile Home Installer | 37 | 100 | 0 | None | None | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
62 | Milk Sampler | 43 | 0 | 0 | None | None | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
63 | Coach, Head (High School Sports) | 47 | 75 | 2 | 14 clock hours | None | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
64 | Fisher, Commercial | 43 | 30 | 0 | None | None | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
65 | Taxidermist | 28 | 12 | 0 | None | None | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The data and information here come from IJ’s License to Work report, released in November 2022.
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